GB520712A - Apparatus for and method of separating seeds - Google Patents

Abstract

520,712. Separating seeds. MAYBEE, G. E. Oct. 29, 1938, No. 31307. Convention date, Nov. 1, 1937. [Class 82 (ii)] To separate seeds from one another, e.g., weed seeds from other 'seeds, the seeds are spread in a thin layer on a conveyer having apertures of a size which prevent the seeds from falling through but allow liquid to pass freely, and the conveyer is introduced into a body of liquid, the surface of which is flowing in the same direction as the direction of movement of the conveyer. The seeds may have been previously conditioned and those that float on the surface of the liquid are separated from those which remain on the conveyer. Seeds from a hopper 1 and conditioning liquid from 2 are mixed at 3 and fed down a spreader plate 4 which is so spaced above an apertured conveyer belt 5 that a layer only one seed thick is formed on the belt. The plate 4 is preferably provided with an opening 4a which may be covered with a screen, so that liquid can pass through on to the back of the plate. Excess conditioning liquid is removed by a roller 8 having an outer surface of absorbent material,: e.g., sponge rubber, the liquid removed being pressed off the roller 8 by the hard roller 9 and recirculated by the pump 24. The conveyer then carries the seeds into the separating tank 10 which has a deep end 10a and a shallow end terminating in a lip 10b which is adjacent the conveyer roll 7. Resilient flaps 13, 14, may be provided to prevent loss of liquid at the ends of the tanks. Liquid is supplied to the tank by a pump 15 and valved pipe 16 and passes upwards through the perforations in the conveyer and flows with the conveyer to the lower end of the tank. The conditions are preferably adjusted so that the velocity of the liquid and that of the conveyer are the same. To prevent lateral flow and eddies between the sides of the tank and the conveyer, the conveyer is preferably of a width such that it extends right across the tank, and rubber strips 11, 12, Fig. 2, may be provided above and below the conveyer, the strips 11 being either on the tank walls or on the conveyer. A separating plate 17 divides the floating seeds from those which remain on the conveyer and are carried below the surface of the liquid, the two grades being passed to screening means 18, the liquid from which is recirculated by the pump 15 fresh liquid being supplied by the pipe 22. Means are provided for adjusting the inclination of the conveyer and its speed of travel. U.S.A. Specification 2,031,943 is referred to.